It is deeply disturbing when a people embrace other people’s cultures, belief systems, and ideas while despising their own. It is equally concerning when the only role models young people have to look up to are individuals involved in political thuggery or musicians whose lyrics focus on the commercialisation of women, nudity, and the pursuit of easy money, without creating meaningful values.
Some people, simply because of a change in their accent, skin tone, or environment, begin to feel that they are no longer African and seek to belong to other races, perhaps assuming that those races are as foolish as they are. The evidence is becoming increasingly clear, as people are being reminded that staying in water for ages does not turn a lizard into a crocodile.
The argument that religion is our problem, particularly the debate over whether Christianity is responsible for Africa’s problems, especially Nigeria’s, is, in my opinion, a waste of time. Most religions and faiths condemn wrongdoing and advocate peace, at least in principle. Therefore, I believe the argument should not be about which religion is better or which one everyone should embrace.
The real concern of every Nigerian and African should be what those in government are doing to improve the lives of the people. A preacher who tells you to pray for clean water, hospitals, or even electricity, without encouraging you to demand accountability from those responsible, is either failing to understand that God cannot be mocked or simply deceiving you. It is, therefore, your responsibility to know your God and understand yourself.
The Bible teaches that you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. It does not say that you should merely believe the truth; the emphasis is on knowing it.
So, I ask you: Do you know the truth, or are you simply going by what other people tell you?
While I agree that many preachers exploit the vulnerability and gullibility of people for their own advantage, I also believe that encouraging people to accept suffering and hardship as proof of faith is ridiculous. At the same time, I sincerely believe that many people have refused to confront their realities and work on themselves to improve their circumstances.
There is no lasting solution if we refuse to begin solving our own problems. The more we argue and fight over religion and tribe, the more politicians strategise and implement policies that continue to impoverish us, undermine our progress, and weaken the very belief systems we claim to defend.
Secondly, one would think that the African continent would rally around the president of Burkina Faso and acknowledge the work he is doing in his country. Instead, many of our men and women are busy fighting one another online, engaging in endless debates about bodily autonomy and abortion. While we remain consumed by distractions and seemingly senseless arguments, other nations are busy building families, corporations, and companies.
Little wonder that conversations about gender roles and identity have become increasingly contentious. Everyone seems to be trying to redefine or replace something, while very few stop to ask who benefits most from the confusion, the propaganda, and the division. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, but my concern is that a person whose house is on fire should not become so distracted by chasing rats that they forget to put out the fire.
Honestly, so much is happening today that leaves me amazed. Sometimes, I wonder how humanity has gradually moved away from the exercise of common sense towards the pursuit of personal feelings and immediate gratification, often at the expense of reason and collective progress.
Nevertheless, despite all the confusion and distractions in the world today, there is something important you can do for yourself.
Create a healthy environment for yourself, both physically and mentally. Be selective about what you read, eat, watch, and the people with whom you associate.
Many people have been led astray, and some do not want to go down that path alone. Make sure that no one leads you astray simply because they have chosen to lose their way.
As an African man or woman, deepen your roots in your cultural values and traditions. Educate yourself. Read history so that you can recognise the smile of a wolf, even when it comes disguised as friendship.
Remember that something may be good, sound good, and appear good, yet still not be right for you.
Never allow your environment, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to hold you captive or determine who you become. Wherever you find yourself, make sure you never lose your identity.
Finally, many of the things we hope and pray for are things we could achieve ourselves if we stopped allowing distractions and unnecessary arguments to consume our time. We must learn to hold our leaders accountable for their responsibilities.
Our foods, games, cultures, and traditions are gradually being replaced, repackaged, and renamed, and we seem to be watching without paying attention.
For instance, the thatched houses our ancestors built with an understanding of our climate were once dismissed as primitive. Yet, when similar architectural ideas are repackaged and given modern names, they suddenly become symbols of luxury and sophistication. The same can be said of puff-puff, which is now often presented under the broader label of small chops. The examples are endless.
I am not suggesting that everything happening today is harmful or that change is necessarily bad. My point is that sensible people should be more concerned about the affairs of their nations, the future of their communities, and the unity of the African continent, with women included as equal participants in that future.
Enough of the endless battles between men and women. Anyone who insists that they can exist entirely alone should remember that old age is waiting around the corner. We all need one another in ways that may not become apparent until much later in life.
As the saying goes, it is the firewood one gathers during summer that sustains one through winter. Likewise, anyone who chooses to bathe with their clothes on should be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Until we wake up, we will continue to lose what we fail to recognise, value, and protect.
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.
Keep it up
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